Process for producing dyed and cleaned material

ABSTRACT

A process and apparatus for producing dyed and cleaned material. A mixture of a dye and a dye carrier is passed through a batch of material to be processed. The dye remaining in the mixture is separated from the dye carrier after it has passed through the material and the dye and the dye carrier are separately stored. Cleaning fluid is passed first through the batch of material which it cleans of loose dye and then through the store of dye so that the cleaning fluid already containing removed loose dye absorbs the stored dye. The cleaning fluid is separated from the dye and stored and the process is repeated using the stored dye carrier mixed with fresh dye and the stored cleaning fluid.

United States Patent [1 1 Gray [ PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DYED AND CLEANEDMATERIAL [75] Inventor: Robert Borland Gray, Kilbarchan,

Scotland [73] Assignee: J. & P. Coats Limited, Glasgow,

Scotland 221 Filed: Mar. 30, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 239,421

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 3, 1971 Great Britain;8622/71 [52] US. Cl 8/158, 8/17, 8/81 8/93, 8/94, 8/D1G. 1, 68/18 C,68/20, 68/189 [51] Int. Cl..... D06p 1/68, B05c 11/10, D06f 43/08 [58]Field of Search 8/17, 20, 142, 149.1, 157, 8/158, 159, 81, 93, 94, DIG.1; 68/5 C, 13 R,

18 R, 18 C, 18 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,301,80311/1942 Davis 68/18 R X 2,573,966 11/1951 Hamlin 8/142 [111. 3,801,27651 Apr. 2, 1974 3,658,459 4/1972 Gartlan 8/142 3,710,601 l/l973 Blanc etal. 68/18 C FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 824,474 12/1959 GreatBritain 68/18 R 886,128 1/1962 Great Britain 68/18 R PrimaryExaminer-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant ExaminerPhilip R. Coe

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [57] ABSTRACT A processand apparatus for producing dyed and cleaned material. A mixture of adye and a dye carrier is passed through a batch of material to beprocessed. The dye remaining in the mixture is separated from the dyecarrier after it has passed through the material and the dye and the dyecarrier are separately stored. Cleaning fluid is passed first throughthe batch of material which it cleans of loose dye and then through thestore of dye so that the cleaning fluid already containing removedloo'se dye absorbs the stored dye. The cleaning fluid is separated fromthe dye and stored and the process is repeated using the stored dyecarrier mixed with fresh dye and thestored cleaning fluid.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DYED AND CLEANEDMATERIAL The subject of this invention is a process for producing dyedand cleaned material. The process is applicable to any textile ornon-textile material capable of being dyed.

The present applicants have previously invented and made a prior patentapplication for a process of producing cleaned dyed material consistingin treating dyed material with a cleaning substance consisting ofacetone in a proportion from 100 to 50 percent and diluent in aproportion from to 50 percent. Other cleaning substances are known butthey suffer from various disadvantages which render them less usefulthan ace-- tone.

The process of the present application combines the dyeing operation andthe cleaning operation into one integrated process to produce dyedcleaned material in one combined operation.

The process for producing dyed articles may be any known process ofusing a dye dissolved in a solvent or may be the process previouslyinvented by the present applicants in which there is applied to thearticle a first component substance incorporating a dye contained in asolvent and a second component substance incorporating a material forwhich the solvent has a higher affinity than it has for the dye, thecomponent substances being mixed before application to the article orbeing applied consecutively to the article. This process of producingdyed articles is also the subject of a prior patent application by thepresent applicants.

A process for producing dyed and cleaned material according to thepresent invention consists in passing a mixture of a dye and a dyecarrier through a batch of material to the processed, separating the dyeremaining The dye and dye carrier mixture may be the mixture of asolvent for the dye and a material having a higher affinity for thesolvent than it has for the dye according to the previous invention madeby the present applicants mentioned above.

The process may include the step of reclaiming the dye separated fromthe cleaning fluid for re-use.

Apparatus for performing the process incorporates a dye carrier stocktank, a cleaning fluid stock tank, a mixing vessel connected to the dyecarrier stock tank and the cleaning fluid stock tank by way of valvemeans, a kier for receiving material to be processed, a main pump havinginlet and outlet connections, valve means associated with the mixingvessel, the kier and the pump and operative to be set to connect theinlet of the pump to the mixing vessel and the outlet of the pump to thekier or to connect the kier to the inlet and the outlet of the pump atthe same time to permit recirculation of the liquid contents of thekier, a filter capable of removing dye fromthe dye/dye carrier mixtureand having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connectible by way'ofvalve means to the kier and the outlet being connectible by way of valvemeans to a discharge outlet, and a cleaning fluid separator capable ofseparating cleaning fluid from the dye carrier and any dye containedtherein, the cleaning fluid separator having an inlet connected by wayof valve means to the outlet of the filter and discharge outlets'fordischarge of separated cleaning fluid and dye carrier with any dyeremaining therein.

The cleaning fluid and dye carrier discharge outlets of the cleaningfluid separator may be arranged to discharge to respective removablereceptacles or may be connected by permanent pipe connectionsincoprorating valve and pump means to the cleaning fluid stock tank andto the inlet of the filter respectively.

The discharge outlet of the filter may be arranged to discharge to aremovable receptacle or may be connected by a permanent pipe connectionincorporating valve and pump means to the dye carrier stock tank.

The cleaning fluid separator may be fitted with an inlet for introducingcleaning fluid for rinsing purposes into the still. i An additionaldischarge outlet for cleaning fluid discharge may be provided at thedischarge end of the filter. The additional discharge outlet may bearranged to discharge to a removable receptacle or may be connected by apermanent pipe connection incorporating valve and pump means to-therinsing cleaning fluid inlet to the cleaning fluid separator and/or tothe inlet to the filter. The kier may be connected by way of valve meansto the said additional discharge outlet, bypassing the filter.

A second additional discharge outlet for cleaning fluid containingdyestuff may be provided at the discharge end of the filter, said secondadditional discharge outlet being arranged to discharge to a removablereceptacle or may be connected by a permanent pipe connectionincorporating valve and pump means to a dye recovery device.

The changeover valve may be so arranged as to be capable of reversingthe connections of the kier to the pump so that the liquid contents ofthe kier may be recirculated alternately in opposite directions throughthe kier. i Preferably the kier is so arranged that the liquid contentsof the kier are circulated in the kier in aradial direction.

The apparatus may include an expansion tank connected to the kier toensure that the kier is filled with either dye mixture or cleaning fluidduring the appropriate steps in the process. The expansion tank ispreferably connected by way of valves to the top of the kier and to theinlet of the pump.

The connection between the pump and the kier and the associated valvesmay be so arranged that dye mixture and cleaning fluid can each becirculated in opposite directions through material in the kier,preferably radially inwards and radially outwards.

The apparatus may incorporate heat exchangers at appropriate points tomaintain the dye mixture and, if desired, the cleaning fluid at adesired operating temperature.

The cleaning fluid separator may be a still which includes a heatexchanger for evaporating the cleaning fluid and a condenser forcondensing the evaporated cleaning fluid. Alternatively, the cleaningfluid separator may be of a non-thermal type. For example it may containa compartment for receiving unseparated fluid, a compartment forseparated fluid, a permeable diaphragm separating the compartments and apump for producing a pressure difference across the diaphragm,separation of the cleaning fluid being performed by the principle ofreverse osmosis.

A schematic diagram of a dyeing and cleaning plant, according to oneembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingin which:

1 denotes a dye carrier stock tank, 2 denotes a mixing chamber connectedto the dye carrier stock tank 1 by a pipe 3 containing a valve 4 andconnectible to a sup ply of dye indicated at S. 6 denotes a cleaningfluid stock tank and 7 denotes a main pump the inlet 8 of which isarranged to be connectible by valve means 9 to the mixing chamber 2 andby valve means 10 to the cleaning fluid stock tank 6. 1 1 denotes a kierfor receiving material to be dyed and cleaned and 12 denotes a filtercapable of removing dye from the dye/dye carrier mixture and having aninlet 13 and an outlet 14. The kier 11 has two connections for passageof fluid into and out of the kier connectible by a changeover valve 15alternatively to the discharge 16 of the pump 7 or to the inlet 8 of thepump 7. The inlet 13 of the filter 12 is alternatively connectible byway of a secondary pump 17, a valve 18 and the changeover valve 15 tothe kier 11 or to the outlet 16 of the pump 7. 19 denotes a cleaningfluid separator constituted by a still capable of separating cleaningfluid from dye carrier and any dye contained in the mixture. The stillcontains heating means for evaporating the cleaning fluid, out of thecleaning fluid/dye carrier mixture and condenser coils 20 for condensingthe evaporated cleaning fluid. 21 denotes a receptacle for collection ofrecovered cleaning fluid. The outlet end 14 of the filter and the kierare separately connectible by valve means 22, a tank 23, a pump 24 an'da dust filter 25 to the still 19 and is also connectible by valve means26 to a dye carrier receptacle 27. 28 denotes anexpansion tank connectedby'way of valves 29 to the top of the kier -l l. The valves 30 and 31are drain valves for draining the mixing chamber 2 and the expansiontank 28 at the end of each dyeing and cleaning cycle and when the plantis to be taken outof use. 32 denotesa receptacle connectible by a valve33 to thebottom of the still for receiving the dyestuff/dye'carriermixture remaining after the cleaning fluid has been removed by theaction of the still. 34 denotes a receptacle for holding cleaning fluidconnectible by a valve 35 and a pump 36 to the inlet 13 of the filter12. The outlet 14 of the filter 12 is connectible by a valve 37 to a'receptacle 38. 39 denotes a supply of dye solvent, for example,perchloroethylene, and 40 denotes a supply of a material for'which thedye solvent has a higher affinity that it has for the dye 5, for examplea silicone, both connectible by respective valve means to the dyecarrier stock tank 1. 41 denotes a source of supply of water connectibleby valve means 42 to the cleaning fluid tank 6 for use in diluting thecleaning fluid where required where aqueous dyes are being used in theplant. The chain-dotted line 43 shows the path to be taken by cleaningfluid recovered in the still for reintroduction to the cleaning fluidstock tank 6. 44 shows the path to be taken by recovered dye car rierfor re-introduction to the dye carrier stock tank 1. 45 denotes the pathto be taken by cleaning fluid from the kier which contains a lowproportion of dye for introduction to the still for cleaningtheapparatus, 46 de- 7 notes the path to be taken by cleaning fluid fromthe kier which contains a low proportion of dye to be passed through thefilter 12 and 47 shows the path to be taken by the dye/dye carrierseparated from the cleaning fluid in the still 19 for re-introduction tothe filter 12. The paths 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 as indicated may in asmall plant represent the physical transfer of receptacles of thematerial but may, particularly in a large plant, be permanent pipeconnections incorporating pumps and valves.

In practice, dye is fed to the mixing chamber 2 from the dye source 5and dye carrier which, as already stated, may be a mixture of siliconeand perchloroethylene, from the dye carrier stock tank 1 is also fed tothe mixing chamber 2 through the pipe 3 and the valve 4. The dye and thedye carrier are mixed in the mixing chamber 2. The valve 9 is thenopened and the main pump 7 set in operation, also the changeover valve15 is set so that the dye/dye carrier mixture is pumped out of themixing chamber 2 and into the kier 11. The valve 9 is then closed andthe changeover valve 15 is operated while the pump 7 remainsin operationso that the mixture is recirculated first in one direction through thebatch of materialin the kier and then in the other until the dyeingoperation of the material is complete. The valve 18 is opened and thepump 17 is set in operation so that the dye/dye carrier mixture ispumped out of the kier l1 and intoand through the filter 12 in which thedye is extracted and the dye carrier then passes through the valve 26,the valve 37 being closed,

to the receptacle 27 and returns by the path 44 to the dye carrier stocktank 1. The valve 10 is now opened so that the cleaning fluid which asstated previously may be acetone flows from the cleaning fluid stocktank 6 into the mixing chamber 2 and is pumped by the pump 7 into thekier 11 (the contents of which have been'previously cooled if necessary)in the same man ner as the dye/dye carrier mixture was previouslypumped. The appropriate valves are then operated so that the pump 7recirculates the cleaning fluid through the kier 11 in alternatedirections exactly as the dye/- dye carrier mixture was previouslyrecirculated through the kier 11. When the cleaning fluid has taken upthe loose dye from the material in the kier 11 the valve 48 is openedand the cleaning fluid/dye liquor is drained into the tank 23. Thecleaning process is re-' peated as necessary with fresh cleaningfluidfrom the tank 6. When the cleaning fluid contains not more than. apredetermined maximum quantity of dye it can either be passed to thereceptacle 49 or may be pumped through the filter 12 as and whenrequired to the recep tacle 38. In passing the cleaning fluid throughthe filter 12 the cleaning fluid takes up the dye which had beenpreviously removed by the filter 12 from the previously circulateddye/dye carrier mixture.

On occasions when the amount of dye in the cleaning fluid is consideredto be small enough not to making cleaning of the filter necessary, forexample after cleaning fluid has been circulated several times insuccession through the same batch of material in the kier, the valve 48will beset to cause the cleaning fluid to bypass the filter 12 untilenough dye collects in the filter from several dyeing operationswhereupon cleaning fluid is again passed through the filter 12 to cleanit.

The cleaning fluid/dye/dye carrier mixture contained in the tank 23 ispassed by means of the pump 24 through the dust filter 25 and isdeposited in the still 19.

In the still 19 the heating means evaporates the cleaning fluid andleaves the dye and dye carrier which had been removed from the materialin the kier l1 and this remaining material is passed through the valve33 into the receptacle 32 for subsequent returning to the system by thepath 47. The cleaning fluid evaporated in the still is condensed by thecondenser coils and is then returned by the path 43 to the cleaningfluid stock tank 6. The filter 12 can be washed by cleaning fluidreturned by the path 46 so that it can be passed by the pump 36 throughthe filter 12 to the receptacle 38. Also some of the cleaning fluid maybe moved through the path 45 and introduced into the still for washingout the still. The cleaning fluid used for washing the still is returnedto the receptacle 38. The material from the receptacle 38 may be passedto a dyestuff recovery unit if desired. a

The expansion tank 28 is used to ensure that the kier 11 is completelyfilled either with dye/dye carrier mixture or with cleaning fluid duringthe appropriate parts of the operating cycle, the kier 11 being allowedto overflow so that the excess passes into the expansion tank 28.

After the cycle is completed as described the cleaning fluid remainingin the material in the kier may be removed, e.g. by blowing or suckinghot air through it before it is removed from the kier ll in a state freefrom cleaning fluid. A fresh batch'of material may then be introduced tothe kier and the cycle repeated.

I claim:

1. A process for producing dyed and cleaned material including the stepsof passing a mixture of a dye and a dye carrier through a batch ofmaterial to be processed, separating the dye remaining in the mixturefrom the dye carrier after it has passed through the material andstoring separately the dye and the dye carrier, passing cleaning fluidfor removing loose dye from said material first through the batch ofmaterial which it cleans of loose dye and then through the store of dyeso that the cleaning fluid already containing removed loose dye absorbsthe stored dye, separating and storing the cleaning fluid from the dyeand repeating the process using the stored dye carrier mixed with freshdye and the stored cleaning fluid on a fresh batch of material to beprocessed.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of reclaiming thedye separated from the cleaning fluid for re-use.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of passing a hotgas through the batch of material after the cleaning fluid has beenpassed therethrough.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of reclaiming the dye separated from the cleaning fluid for re-use.
 3. A process as claimed in claim 1 including the step of passing a hot gas through the batch of material after the cleaning fluid has been passed therethrough. 